Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Baker, Florida, March 12, 2006
On March 12, 2006 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N321GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baker, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to an oil line leak and oil exhaustion. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 2006 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Baker, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N321GS · registry record · serial 32R-7887165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and instrument student were on an IFR cross-country flight. While descending from 11,000 feet to 5,000 feet, the oil annunciator light illuminated and the oil pressure gage was not indicating any pressure. The engine began to run rough and vibrate, and then lost power. They declared an emergency and were vectored towards a nearby airport. The engine made "a loud squealing noise" before it shut down completely. Unable to reach the airport, they made a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. Post-accident examination of the engines revealed a breach in the crankcase above the no. 6 cylinder. The no. 6 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft, and the connecting rod and crankshaft journal exhibited heat distress from the loss of lubrication. A fragment of a broken connecting rod bolt exhibited signs of ductile overload. The oil hose supplying pressure lubrication to the turbo bearing (p.n. 124F003-6GR0262 rated at 1,500 psi) was found to be making contact with the exhaust system pipes, and the heat shield was burned through at two locations, exhibiting chafing and heat distress. Pressure test of the hose produced air bubbles. According to the engine maintenance logbook, two damaged oil lines had been removed and replaced the year before due to overheat from the exhaust system.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,063 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 982 as pilot in command; 623 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 69 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO1 Memphis TN at 8:00 pm
- Destination: DTS Destin FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from CEW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.